Gerrard demands Liverpool board spend big in summer market

"It hurts more and more when we get to November or December every season and have to accept we're out of the title race again," Gerrard told the News of the World.

"Every year seems to be following the same routine. The manager asks for more support in the transfer market in January, while we're all saying to ourselves this should have happened the previous summer.

"The time to act is now, not in January when we're already too far behind.

"The manager knows where we need to strengthen and the players and fans have faith in Rafa - but he needs the backing to act on his plans.

"When the American owners came to Liverpool they told the players and fans they wanted the same as us.

"We all believed them when they made that promise and it's been repeated again since, so we're all desperate to see it happen."